Incubator



(No Model.)

J. L. NIX.

INOUBATOR. No. 597,242. Patented Jan. 11, 1898.

/ ///////I[///// Ill/Ill THE mmms PETERS 0a.. PHOTO-LING" WASHINGTON. \2v 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES LOVE NIX, OF HOMER CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

INCUBATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,242, dated January 11, 1898.

Application filed August 7, 1896.

To all whom it Ina-y concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES LOVE NIX, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Homer Olty,in the county of Indiana and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incubators; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertain-s to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to incubators; and its object is to provideimproved means for regulating the temperature therein, whereby an equable and uniform degree is maintained. Incubators as at present constructed with thermostat temperature -regulating devices generally have the thermostat-bar placed in the egg-chamber above the eggs. This necessitates frequent adjustments of the heat-controlling device to the thermostat, owing to outside changes oftemperature and increase of the animal heat in the eggs themselves.

The object of my invention is to provide a compound or compensating thermostat one arm of which is located above and the other arm below the eggs, so that any variations in the outside temperature are compensated for by the lower arm of the thermostat, which will maintain a uniform temperature on the eggs without the necessity of adjusting the heat-controllin g device connected therewith, as is the case when a single thermostat is employed.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of an incubator constructedin accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view showing the means for adjustably supporting the eggtrays.

Referring to the said drawings and particularly to Fig. 1, the reference-numeral 1 designates the incubator, consisting of a rectangular box provided with egg-trays 2, a moisturepan 3, and a lamp or other heating Serial No. 602,073. (No model.)

apparatus 4. These parts may be of any ordinary or suitable construction.

Located in the incubator is a compound thermostat 5, comprising the two parallel connected arms 6 and '7. One of these arms is locatedbelow and the other above the eggtray, so that any variations of the outside temperature which will cause a variation in the temperature in the lower part of the incubator will act upon the thermostat, which in turn will operate the heat-regulatingmechanism. The said thermostat is attached to a post 8, secured to the floor or bottom of the incubator and extends underneath the eggtray and then up and back over the said tray, and its extremity is secured to a rod 9, passing through the top of the incubator and connected with a lever 10. One end of this lever is connected with a damper 12 at the top of the lamp-chimney, so that as the temperature in the incubator rises the damper will open and allow the heat to escape, and when the temperature is reduced or lowered the damper will close, so as to throw the heat into the incubator.

The thermostat I prefer to use consists of two metal bars of different degrees of expansibility, so that as the temperature varies they will bow or bend to operate the heatcontrolling devices.

In Fig. 2 I have shown means for adjusting the egg-trays. These trays consist of rectangular receptacles or pans 12, provided at the ends with brackets 13, workin g in grooves let in the incubator. These brackets are formed with holes 15, which engage with pins 16, by which they are held in position. Turnbuttons 17 are also provided for holding the brackets on the pins.

In an incubator constructed as above when 0 the outside atmosphere varies in temperature so as to effect the lower side of the eggs the lower arm of the thermostat will operate to actuate the heat-regulating devices, so that an equable and uniform temperature will be kept up in the incubator.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. In an incubator, the combination with the egg receptacles or trays and the heat-reg- IOO ulating device, of a compound thermostat having parts thereof located above and below said egg trays or chambers, substantially as described.

2. In an incubator, the combination with the egg receptacles or trays and the heating device, of the compound thermostat having its lower arm located beneath the said egg chamber or tray and its upper arm extended above the same on rod connected With said upper arm, the lever and damper, substantially as described.

3. In an incubator, the combination with the egg-trays, of the apertured arms connected with the egg-trays working in socketed grooves in the ends of the incubator, the

pins engaging with the sockets in the grooves, and the turn-buttons, substantially as described.

at. In an incubator, the combination with the egg-trays, of the apertured arms connected with the egg-trays working in socketed grooves in the ends of the incubator and the pins engaging With the sockets in the grooves, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES LOVE NIX.

Witnesses:

H. S. THOMPSON, JOHN G. CAMERON. 

